Practice Makes Perfect

Engineers at Ford Performance Racing are sifting through data this evening after conditions at Phillip Island saw a drop-off in the team's recent stellar performance.

Mark Winterbottom finished sixth but the team had expected more after the Orrcon Steel FPR Falcon's domination at Surfers Paradise two weeks ago.

Lap times for all teams are down on September's L&H 500 at Phillip Island, but FPR lost more pace relative to its competitors. 

"Everyone's a second away from the L&H 500 times but we're a second and a half and the car's virtually the same," said Steve Richards, who finished 17th after qualifying 26th in the Castrol FPR Falcon. "The car is set up very similar but is not performing the same."

Possible explanations for the slower track include the Bridgestone rubber left behind by the recent MotorGP, a different wind direction and a warmer ambient temperature.

Because of the two-day race format for the Island 300, teams did not have the usual practice sessions on Friday to acclimatise to the conditions

"That race is probably like an extended practice for us," said Frosty. "It's the same for everyone so you can't use that as an excuse. If you asked a driver and engineer if they wanted more practice before a race they would be driving around for a week. You don't get it right all the time. We'll learn from that for tomorrow and move forward."

Cars will be back on track tomorrow at 10:35 for Race 22 qualifying.

The Island 300 - Races 21 & 22
PHILLIP ISLAND GRAND PRIX CIRCUIT
V8 SUPERCARS - Qualifying
1. Jason Bright, Britek, 1:34.0903
2. Craig Lowndes, 888, +0.0857
3. Jamie Whincup, 888, +0.0902
4. Shane Van Gisbergen, SBR, +0.2556
5. Will Davison, HRT, 0.2728
6. Mark Winterbottom, Orrcon Steel FPR Falcon, +0.3194
26. Steve Richards, Castrol FPR Falcon, +1.3934

The Island 300 - Races 21 & 22
PHILLIP ISLAND GRAND PRIX CIRCUIT
V8 SUPERCARS - Shoot-out
1. Jason Bright, Britek, 1:33.6487*
2. Will Davison, HRT, +0.3859
3. Jamie Whincup, 888, +0.5054
4. Todd Kelly, Kelly Racing, +0.5766
5. Rick Kelly, Kelly Racing, +0.7612
6. Lee Holdsworth, GRM, +.8323
7. Craig Lowndes, 888, +0.8434
8. Shane Van Gisbergen, SBR, +0.8591
9. Fabian Coulthard, PCR, +1.0690
10. Mark Winterbottom, Orrcon Steel FPR Falcon, +1.4971

The Island 300 - Races 21 & 22
PHILLIP ISLAND GRAND PRIX CIRCUIT
V8 SUPERCARS - Race 21
01. Jamie Whincup, 888
02. Will Davison, HRT
03. Rick Kelly, Kelly Racing
04. Garth Tander, HRT
05. Shane Van Gisbergen, SBR
06. Mark Winterbottom, Orrcon Steel FPR Falcon
17. Steve Richards, Castrol FPR Falcon